Zion Redeemed With Judgment
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 5/12/2013 PM |
Text: | Isaiah 1:27 |
Psalters: | 257, 293, 249, 365 |
Applicatory to the Lord's Supper |
- The necessity.
- “Zion” is used in three ways.
- Spiritual evaluation:
- Zion in the broad sense was worthy of God’s wrath, as chaff (along with weeds).
- Zion in the narrow sense is the body of the elect (though it still has an old man).
- Zion shall be “redeemed.”
- Redemption is vindication by a near relative who took up the cause of a family member who was in dishonor.
- Isaiah sees Zion to be in great debt, a captive of a foreign power and a price must be paid to liberate her.
- The way in which Zion is redeemed is with “judgment” and “righteousness.”
- The idea behind the words.
- Righteousness is to be holy and perfect.
- Judgment means that God does justly and His judgment is according to His righteousness.
- Zion cannot pay the price, but God Himself does, in His love and grace. We would and do only increase our debt!
- He gave His only begotten Son to be Zion’s near-Kinsman who took the responsibility for all our debt and shame/dishonor.
- This means that Zion is redeemed through the judgment of the wicked world.
- It also means that the chaff and our old man is condemned and destroyed.
- The idea behind the words.
- “Shall be” indicates certainty.
- The visible facts seem to contradict God’s word through Isaiah.
- Seemed impossible that historic Zion, because God’s wrath on her for her sins would be utter destruction.
- Spiritually it is also impossible for sin is such a mighty powerful captor.
- But God says that Zion shall be redeemed.
- Faith in the truth of God’s Word overcomes all the doubts and fears caused by what we see or feel.
- The reason for the certainty.
- The visible facts seem to contradict God’s word through Isaiah.